Disaster Relief

Komatsu supports various forms of recovery and reconstruction work in areas affected by disasters.

Using our technology and know-how as a construction equipment manufacturer, Komatsu tries to identify how to best come along side disaster affected areas to offer our support.

Clearing Anti-personnel Landmines and Reconstruction Support

Since 2008, Komatsu has partnered with the Japan Mine Action Service (JMAS), a certified NPO, to support demining activities in areas of Cambodia and Angola that suffer from damages caused by anti-personnel landmines, which also includes reconstruction work as part of this community development project. The demining machines and construction machinery, that were developed using our company's technical expertise and manufacturing knowledge, are being put to full use in this endeavour. At the Mabubas reservation in Angola, which has become a safe area due to demining, the city rebuilding plan is moving forward. In Cambodia, the four elementary schools that were built by this project received bookshelves and books from Komatsu and JMAS. At these schools, where most of the children were seeing a book for the first time, these gifts are being very much enjoyed by both students and teachers. This year, we are in the 6th year of being involved in this project. We are seeing steady progress in making villages safe and improving the lives of the people there.
This project by Komatsu and JMAS is being introduced to children in Japan by Komatsu employees that go to elementary and middle schools to do visiting lectures.

Library at Chror Narb Phes Elementary School

Visiting Lecture

Supporting Natural Disaster Recovery Work

Komatsu is using its technical expertise and know-how as a construction equipment manufacturer to support reconstruction work in areas affected by natural disasters like earthquakes and typhoons.
Right after the typhoon debris flow disaster in Izu-Oshima in October 2013, Komatsu proposed the disaster waste separation process and commenced support work in response to the needs of the area. Since then, we have continued to work towards recovery by increasing the service of not stopping the operation of machinery, and holding on-site training sessions so that the islanders are able to learn the skills for the demolition, for which there is increasing demand.
For the typhoon disaster that hit the Philippines in November, Komatsu was involved on a global scale, and partnered with the local Philippine distributor MAXIMA Machineries Inc. to move forward with support work (see VOICE).
In regards to the Great East Japan Earthquake, since the earthquake hit in March 2011, Komatsu has provided support such as free rental of construction machinery and temporary shelters, and providing tuition assistance for skills training. Going forward, Komatsu proposes supporting decontamination work by using the ICT bulldozer, and other ways to make use of Komatsu's unique technology. In addition, Komatsu is planning to gather support from all over Japan to strengthen our service system as the major reconstruction work starts in earnest, to continue contributing to the recovery work of the disaster affected area.

Supporting the Transportation of Goods Immediately after Disaster
—Support for Victims of the Typhoon by our Philippines Distributor—

Typhoon Haiyan, which caused the worst destruction in Philippines' history, damaging many buildings over a massive area, destroying a large number of people's homes and taking many lives. In response to this catastrophic disaster, many channels of help and support were extended from all over the nation and the world.
At MAXIMA, the president of our company immediately put together a team and set up a system to transport support goods. We provided ten vehicles to transport various goods from the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development's warehouses to the freightliner terminal in Manila. With our support, they were able to transport enough food items to make over 70,000 meals.

A forklift being taken to the disaster area by the air-force plane

Komatsu in Japan also donated JPY10 million, and gave support by providing machinery. Two forklifts were operating at the freightliner terminal for two weeks, being used to load and unload goods. Four machines were transported to Tacloban on the Leyte island by the Philippines air force to support the government's recovery efforts. Our electricity generators were also used at the air force hubs and at the warehouses of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
MAXIMA plans to lend two construction machines to the UN development program, the Tacloban Project, until the end of April 2014.

As part of MAXIMA's CSR activities, our employees are volunteering to help with the packing of goods at the Department of Social Welfare and Development's offices.